The Ligonier Township Supervisors will have a second chance at their meeting Tuesday to fill a vacant seat on the township’s five-member governing panel.
Eight people met the supervisors’ April 4 deadline to submit letters of interest for the appointment, but the supervisors were unable to reach an agreement on a candidate at their April 8 meeting.
Supervisors Stephanie Verna and John Beaufort were alone in supporting the bid of Barb Nalle, chairperson of the township planning commission, to temporarily fill the seat vacated by D. Scott Matson’s recent resignation as a supervisor.
Township Manager Michael Strelic explained a three-member majority of the full board of supervisors is required to approve the appointment. Dan Resenic was absent, and Chairman Erik Ross voted against Nalle’s appointment.
Ross later told TribLive he wants Resenic to be involved in the decision.
If the four remaining supervisors still can’t decide on an appointee, township vacancy board Chairman John Fraser would be called upon to add his vote.
Strelic said Fraser has applied for the appointment but has indicated he would withdraw his application if he is required to perform his duty as vacancy chairman.
If township officials fail to appoint someone, the matter would be referred to the Westmoreland County Court.
Others who have applied for the appointment include: Wade Stoner, a former township recreation board member who is running for election to one of two supervisor seats — those held by Ross and formerly held by Matson; Dan Weimer, who serves on the township municipal authority and planning commission; Martin Knizner, a planning commission member; Wade Thomas, a former township supervisor; Bethany Caldwell, former township finance director; and Bob McDowell, a local fire official.
The appointment will run through the end of the year.
Others in the running in the Republican primary for supervisor include Ross, Robert Barron, Chris Hefner and Paul Knupp.
Matson, who was nearing the end of his second term on the township board, abruptly announced his decision to step down and departed near the beginning of the supervisors’ March 11 meeting. He cited other work and life obligations.